The website of The Irish Times, www.ireland.com, has launched its Budget 2001 site which, over the coming days, will contain extensive preBudget coverage and deliver up-to-date, comprehensive news and analysis of the package as it is unveiled by the Minister for Finance on Wednesday. The site contains extensive news coverage, a breakdown of the Estimates, pre-Budget submissions from unions, industry leaders and employer associations along with online polls and discussion forums.

On Budget day, the site will carry a live video stream of Mr McCreevy's speech and the responses from the Opposition. The main points of the Budget will appear as they are announced and the full text of the minister's speech will be available as soon as he finishes it.

An online tax calculator, developed in association with Price water houseCoopers, will allow users to assess the impact of the budget on their pockets. A panel from Price water house Coopers and The Irish Times will be on hand on Thursday morning to answer your questions.